All our towns are being shaped his year by a boring sounding but extremely important document: their Long Term Plan. It’s really important to have your say on the last one still open – it’s even worth missing a few minutes of MAFS.

We all know the Wellington region needs more cash for public transport, plus discouragement from driving that clogs the roads (we said it loudly too). But how do we get it? One tool is congestion charging. Auckland’s thinking hard about it – is it a tool our region should use too? Auckland’s Harriet Gale has some…

They’re baaaaack! This coming week, students are pouring back into our region’s universities, polytechs and training institutions. Yes there’s more raucousness, but as Beth Goodwin observes, these populations are generally good for our towns and cities.

Seeing your hometown with fresh eyes is always a good thing, even (especially) when that’s a bit uncomfortable. Lured by the challenging concept of “Re-Māorifying”, Talk Wellington’s Isabella Cawthorn found some home truths and fresh perspectives about Porirua – and all our towns. It was too good to be a coincidence. I was reading…

In this age of big data, “smart cities” are gathering and using data to inform decisions about the places we live. Sean Audain looks at how this is happening in Wellington, and what it means for our engagement with our city. The intertwined systems of a city can seem as complex as a living…

Dunne’s done, but Johnsonville Shopping Centre soldiers on: TalkWellington takes a closer look at the decade-long renovation saga and what it might mean for the future of Wellington retail. They’ve been leaching away for a while now. First it was the odd shop that remained shuttered when the others opened for the day’s trading. Then…

Real power can mean simply having choices to be healthier in your own home. Whare Hauora is a Wellington charity that empowers people with detailed information about the healthiness of our homes. Living in a cold, draughty, damp house in Wellington is a period in many Wellingtonians’ lives. From warmer, drier houses we tell stories…

Wellington has long been quietly smug about our best-in-NZ public transport. It’s time to make it really bear dividends for Wellington City. Guest author Guy M has been walking, photographing and thinking. Let’s Get Wellington Moving is a great idea, but it seems a little slow on progress. We’re assured that behind the scenes, great…